Dogs can be costly

Did you know that despite being one of the smallest dogs, the Chihuahua causes an average of £866 worth of damage to property.

Over its lifetime it will rip or stain carpets, scrat or chew sofas and dig up plants and flowerbeds?

Another fur ball of destruction is the Dachshund, with owners of the cute ‘sausage’ dog facing a bill of £810 to repair or clean up after their pet’s destruction.

The research study, conducted by PayingTooMuch.com, found that some people face an even higher bill, with many also admitting their pet has caused damage to other people’s property and have been involved in, or caused an accident.

Michael Ward, managing director of PayingTooMuch.com, said: “When you add up the total amount spent on cleaning, repairing and replacing, pet damage can cost a fortune. Worryingly, there are a large number of people who don’t have insurance to cover the costs – whether that’s contents cover for your home, or pet insurance to cover the cost of vets bills or damage to other people’s property.”

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are some breeds that are a little more placid, and respectful! At the other end of the scale, Staffordshire Bull Terriers cause the least amount of damage with a total bill of just £178. So if you’re thinking of buying a dog, you should do your research.

Here’s a list of the top 10 most destructive and least destructive dogs.